Treo is an eight-year-old Labrador who has been an AES (Arms Explosive Dog) since he was two. He is trained to search weapons and explosives his mission is to search in operational theatres such as Afghanistan. Treo had completed operational tasks before, but during March 2008 was deployed to the notorious Helmand Province to search for weapons and munitions concealed by the Taliban.

In mid-August 2008, in Sangin, Treo located a daisy chain improvised explosive device that had been carefully concealed at the side of a path where soldiers were about to pass. Had he not located the device, the passing infantry soldiers would have certainly suffered casualties because the device was booby trapped to go off as they passed.

On 3 and 4 September 2008, Treo once again located an IED, saving 7 Platoon, The Royal Irish Regiment, from guaranteed casualties. Again in lead position, the dog successfully identified the device and saved the lives of soldiers and civilians alike.

He has made an outstanding contribution to the armys efforts in Afghanistan, saving lives and inspiring confidence and morale in the soldiers around him.

On 24 February 2010, in a special ceremony held at the Imperial War Museum, London, Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra presented a Dickin Medal recognised worldwide as the animals Victoria Cross to Treo, a military working dog.

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